Jesus and Muhammad: Fifteen major differences

Aggressive Islam is on the march. 9/11; violent protests over cartoons;
many pushes to establish Islamic courts in Europe and Canada; demands to
silence free speech, to criminalize criticism of the messenger of Allah;
the President of Iran threatening to wipe Israel off the map, and writing a long and
confused
rant, inviting the President of the US to accept Islam; the election of Hamasthese
actions are easy to detect and decipher. Islam wants its way, and no one should resist.
It is the best religion, after all.

But there is something more subtle, gradual and dangerous going on than this
in-your-face aggression. In the name of peace and tolerancewhich we all
wantsome lines are being blurred. Islam says that Jesus was a mere prophet, only a
human messenger even within Islamnever mind that he lived six hundred years before
Muhammad. He and Muhammad are virtually the same. Both preached peace, but called for
the sword, when necessary. But in the final analysis Muhammad
is the last and best prophet. He has the better revelation. If only we could see this!
So goes the subtle and dangerous strategy.

However, this list of fifteen differences between Jesus and Muhammad disagrees
with this insidious message. The differences between the two are profound.

It is better to be clear than confused, and the typical message of Islam
washes away clarity about Christianity and whitewashes its own message. In fact, many
well-meaning western scholars also muddy the waters. Some aspects and policies of the two
religious leaders cannot be reconciled, and it is high time we acknowledge this. If the
readers are disappointed about these irreconcilable differences, then at least they will
not be confused at the end of this list.

Before we begin the list, we must answer a strategy of Muslim
propagandists and missionaries. Sometimes they attempt to refute lists like this. But
attempting to do this is like reviewing a long, long book only from the last chapter. The
reviewer has skipped over the hard work of reading all of the chapters. In the same way,
Muslim polemicists must not skip over the hard work found in the back-up articles. This
list is only a summary of many articles. It comes from a lot of strenuous labor
from myself and many other researchers. So Muslim missionaries must refute these articles
before they earn the right to reply to a mere summary.

If the readers would like to see multiple translations of the Quran, they
should click on this website.

This article uses the New International Version (NIV), but multiple
translations may be read here.

The first two differences set the stage for all the others.

1. Personal sin

One suffered from sin. The other was sinless.

Muhammad

In Mecca, he receives this command about his sin.

40:55 Then have patience (O Muhammad). Lo! the promise of Allah is true.
And ask forgiveness of thy sin [dh-n-b] and hymn the praise of thy Lord at
fall of night and in the early hours. (Pickthall)

The Arabic word dhanaba (verb form) come from the root dh-n-b
and is defined below in this section. This verse is unambiguous. Muhammad has sin.

It is one of the great ironies in the Quran that the next sura (chapter) can be
titled either "Muhammad" or "War" (qital, root is q-t-l).
This verse was revealed in Medina.

47:19 So know (O Muhammad . . .) that . . . none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin, [dh-n-b] and also for
(the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about,
and your place of rest (in your homes). (Hilali and Khan)

Note that Muhammad implores forgiveness from Allah not only for himself
but for Muslim men and women. This means that average humans have dh-n-b, and so
does Muhammad.

The final example of Muhammads sin comes from Sura 48, a Medinan chapter.

48:2 That Allah may forgive you your sins [dh-n-b] of the past and
the future and complete His Favour on you, and guide you on the Straight Path . . .
(Hilali and Khan)

This verse was probably revealed in 628, barely four years before he died
of a fever in AD 632. Does this mean that the messenger of Allah had sin before AD 628?
This seems to be the case. To be forgiven of dh-n-b, one must have it first.

How is dh-n-b defined? Is it only a small weakness? Merely a minor fault?

A Muslim scholar defines it thus: "Crime; Fault; Offence; Sin; Any act having
an evil result" (Omar). A western scholar defines it as "a crime, fault,
sin" (Penrice).

Go here for a list of verses in the Quran that
describe other persons who suffer from dh-n-b.
It means far more than simple errors, small mistakes, superficial weaknesses, minor
faults, and brief lapses of memory. It may include these things (all humans do them), but
it also has to signify sin, crime, offense, and any act having an evil result (all humans
do this also, in one way or another).

What does this sin nature in Muhammad mean in practical and down-to-earth
terms today? If a researcher points out an atrocity or a violent act that Muhammad
committed, then for a devout Muslim the atrocity or act is not wrong or unjust or sinful.
It must be right, just, and sinless, no matter what the facts say because Muhammad was
sinlessagain, no matter what the Quran says. And the vicious circle goes round and
round.

He poses this rhetorical question to his opponents and accusers in John 8:45-46:

Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can you prove me
guilty of any sin?

In his culture, "prove guilty of sin" refers to his keeping the Law.
Did he deviate from it? His opponents do not take him up on his challenge.

Next, Peter lived and walked with Jesus for at least three years. If anyone could,
then the chief Apostle surely saw some minor sin in the Lord, right?

21 To this you [Christians] were called because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He committed
no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. (1 Peter 2:21-22)

In verse 22, Peter quotes from Isaiah 53:9, which Jesus fulfilled in his
suffering and death. So the chief Apostle did not find even a minor sin in Jesus
Christno sin at all.

Finally, the Apostle John also lived and walked with Jesus for three
years. What is his assessment of Jesus from his own observations?

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
And in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)

The verdict is in: John never saw a sin in the Lord, whom he saw up close
and personal.

Both declarations by Peter and John are remarkable. It is one hundred percent
certain that if we had followed these apostles for three years every day, then we
would have seen at least one sin. But these two did not see even one sin in Jesus.

2. Confronting Satan

One nervously seeks refuge from Satan. The other had complete confidence
and authority.

Muhammad

Sura 113, a short one, revealed in Mecca, says in its entirety:

1 Say [Prophet], "I seek refuge with the Lord of daybreak 2 against
the evil in what He has created, 3 the evil in the night when darkness gathers,
4 the evil in witches when they blow on knots, 5 the evil in the envier when he
envies." (MAS Abdel Haleem, The Quran, Oxford UP, 2004, his insertion;
cf. Suras 7:200-201; 16:98; 41:36; and Sura 114, a short one, in its entirety)

The hadith is the record of Muhammad words and actions outside of the Quran.
Bukhari is considered a highly reliable collector and editor. The following hadith
indicates that Muhammad believes that some sort of knots on the head is the result of
Satan and witchcraft.

Allah's Apostle said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head
of any of you if he is asleep" . . .
(Bukhari;
see a parallel hadith here)

This next hadith demonstrates that Muhammad was so deeply influenced by
magic that he believed that he was having sex with his wives, but in reality he was not.

Narrated Aisha: Magic was worked on Allah's Apostle so that he used to
think that he had sexual relations with his wives while he actually had not.
(Bukhari,
and read the hadith below this linked one.)

The highly respected conservative commentator, Sayyid Abul ALa Maududi (d. 1979),
says that the hadiths on Muhammads bewitchment are sound. "As far as the historical
aspect is concerned, the incident of the Holy Prophet's being affected by magic is absolutely
confirmed" ... (Maududi
and scroll down to "Question of Holy Prophet being affected by magic"). Maududi
is right. Muhammad was bewitched. And this is not part of true Prophethood.

Jesus

Throughout his three-year ministry, he exercised spiritual authority over
the kingdom of darkness, wherever he went. After the Great Test (Luke 4:1-13; see no.
seven, below, in this list) Luke records the first public encounter with a demon:

33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit.
He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of
Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God! 35
"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon
threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. (Luke 4:33-35)

Jesus speaks a stern command: "Come out of him!" This reveals
spiritual authority and decisiveness, which is repeated time and again in Jesus
ministry.

This article contrasts Muhammads fears
and bewitchment with Christs commanding authority over Satan and dark powers.

This index page
references several articles and rebuttals and replies.

3. Small-scale violence

One killed mockers and enemies. The other rises above such violence.

Muhammad

He assassinated (or threatened to murder) at least eleven men or women who
insulted or threatened him. Several of his victims merely composed satirical poems.

These verses offer support of this policy. Medinan Sura 33:60-61 says:

60 If the hypocrites, the sick of heart, and those who spread lies in the
city [Medina] do not desist, We shall arouse you [Prophet] against them, and then they
will only be your neighbors in this city for a short while. 61 They will be rejected
wherever they are found, and then seized and killed. (Haleem, his insertions)

Muhammad had already assassinated some opponents for their insults and mockery
before these verses were sent down, but now they give him divine endorsement.

Jesus

During the last week of Jesus life, the tension between him and the religious
establishment rises. The leaders look for a way to trap and then arrest him. So they ask
him whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Apparently, they saw him as a political
revolutionary who opposed Roman occupation. Would he endorse the taxation of his fellow
Jews for the benefit of unclean Gentiles? However, they did not know that he was a king,
but that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). So he replied with these famous
words that are often quoted, though people may not know the exact reference and context
(Luke 20:20-26; cf. Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17).

Jesus speaks first; his opponents reply.

24 "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
25 "Caesars," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to
Caesar what is Caesars, and to God what is Gods." 26 They were unable
to trap him in what he said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became
silent. (Luke 20:20-26)

After this disarming reply, it is important to note what he did not do. He
did not send Simon the Zealot, one of the Twelve, to follow an antagonistic leader, mingle
in the large crowd of pilgrims during the Feast of Passover, sneak up on him, stab him,
and disappear in the crowd again. These kinds of assassinations were not unknown in the
decades before the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. But violence was not necessary. God
was with Jesus.

This article examines two very different reactions
when they were insulted or threatened.

Muhammads Dead Poets Society provides
a timeline of the death of poets and poetesses. It also replies to Muslim polemics
for their prophets murders.

This page offers articles on how
Muhammad dealt with personal enemies.

4. Religious freedom

One suppresses it. The other permits it.

Muhammad

Polytheists controlled the Black Stone housed in the Kabah shrine. This
was both a spiritual center (in pagan logic) and a financial center (in real terms).
Muhammad eventually conquered it in early AD 630. After declaring amnesty for Meccan
pagans, he changes his tone. He imposes this ultimatum on them and all pagans.

Sura 9:5 says:

Then, when the months made unlawful for fighting expire, kill the mushriks
[polytheists] wherever you find them, and seize them, and besiege them, and lie in wait
for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish Salat [prayer five times
a day] and pay the Zakat dues [charity tax], then let them go their way. (Maududi, The
Meaning of the Quran, vol. 2, p. 175; insertions mine)

This verse says that unless pagans say their prayers the Muslim way and pay a forced
"charity" tax, they will be killed.

Next, this hadith says that Muhammad is called to fight until people
acknowledge that only Allah is the right deity and Muhammad is his messenger. The people
must also give the messenger their money.

Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight
against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah
and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the
obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from
me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."
(Bukhari; see a parallel
hadith here)

Malik (d. 795) is a founder of an Islamic school of law and a reliable collector and
editor of hadith. He records this tradition about Muhammads policy on those
who leave Islam:

He let people go their own way, if they refuse to follow him. He said,
"If anyone comes after [follows] me" . . . (Matthew 17:24). The little word
"if" implies freedom to accept the way of Jesus or to walk away from it. He
never raised a holy army to force anyone to convert. In John 6, some disciples decided to
walk away from him. He had spoken difficult words.

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed
him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon
Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:66-69)

It is important to note what Jesus did not do or say. He did not threaten them with
physical death. He did not send a disciple or two to assassinate one of the deserters
(a leader, perhaps), to teach the rest and the Twelve a lesson. "Follow and obey me,
or else!" "Or else what?" "Or else Ill kill you!"
Those words and others like them Jesus never spoke.

This article explores why the West and other free
countries around the globe must protect freedom of speech.

This short article contrasts Islam's
coercion of conscience with Christianity's freedom of conscience.

This article analyzes Muhammads policy on apostates
in the Quran, hadith, and Islamic law.

Maududi in this booklet argues that Sura 9:11-12
refers to apostates and that they should be put to death (scroll down to "The Proof in
the Quran for the Commandment to Execute Apostates").

This website has an overview
of Islam on apostates. They should be given time to repent, but if they refuse, they must
be killed. Women apostates may be killed according to some schools of law, or she may be
imprisoned and whipped.

5. Large-scale violence

One launched the first Crusade. The other ordains preaching alone.

Muhammad

It is true that the word "Crusade" comes from the word
"cross," but it is used here in the broad sense of "holy war." Muslims
today forget that Muhammad was the first to launch one, long before the western Europeans
responded with theirs. In the ten years that he lived in Medina, he either sent out or
went out on seventy-four raids, skirmishes and battles. Sura 9 is his last revelation in
its entirety before he dies. He commissions his followers to wage war on Jews and
Christians or the People of the Book or Scripture (= Bible).

Sura 9:29 says:

Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor
forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and those who
acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians) until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
(Hilali and Khan, insertions in parentheses are theirs)

This verse that commands battle against Christians and Jews is all about
theology and belief. It says nothing explicit about a real and physical harm done to
Islam. Muhammad launched his Tabuk Crusade in late AD 630 against the Byzantine
Christians. He had heard a rumor that an army was mobilizing to invade Arabia, but the
rumor was false, so his 30,000 jihadists returned home, but not before imposing a jizya
tax on northern Christians and Jews. They had three options: (1) fight and die; (2)
convert to Islam; (3) or submit and pay the second-class-citizen jizya tax for the
"privilege" of living under Islam.

Jesus

After he was resurrected from the dead and just before he ascended to rule
on high, he sends forth his followers to preach the gospel without violence. In
Evangelical Christianity this passage is known as the Great Commission.

18 Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, "All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

Nothing in these verses command warfare. For centuries after Christs
resurrection and ascension, his disciples crisscrossed the Mediterranean world preaching
without violence. Despite being persecuted, they turned the world right-side up and
transformed it.

This article analyzes Matthew 10:34 and Sura 9:123,
a jihadist verse. Jesus does not order his disciples to kill people with sharp swords.

This article also looks at verses that seem to say that Jesus
followers should use swords. But he does not order any kind of jihadnot even close.

These articles (here and here)
explain the differences between Muhammads wars of worldwide conquest and the Old Testaments
limited wars more than 3,000 years ago.

6. Martyrdom

One promises earthly and heavenly rewards for dying in a holy war. The
other says his martyrdom promises his followers heaven.

Muhammad

Sura 4 was revealed over a three year period in the middle of
Muhammads career (AD 625-627). He is not quite as secure as he will be when he
conquers Mecca in AD 630. For now, he needs to recruit jihadists for his raids, conflicts,
and wars. One way to get them to join up is to promise earthly or heavenly rewards.

4:74 Let those fight in the cause of God Who sell the life of this world
for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of God, - whether he is slain or gets
victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value) . . . . (Yusuf Ali)

Next, these two verses in Sura 4 teach that Allah has created at least a
two-tier system in his Muslim ummah or community: (1) Those who "strive hard and
fight with their wealth and their lives"; (2) those who sit at home. The disabled are
in a separate category.

4:95-96 Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except
those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard
and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in
grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who
sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred
those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward; 96
Degrees of (higher) grades from Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. . . . (Hilali and Khan)

At the end of Muhammads life, Muhammad reinforces this two-caste
system: see Sura 9:38-39, 41, 44, 86, 87.

Finally, as seen in 4:74, an economic bargain is offered to jihadists in
this next verse. Allah purchases their lives in exchange for Islamic paradise. Sura 9 is
the last sura to be revealed in its entirety.

9:111 Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their
properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause,
so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in
the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'an. . . Then rejoice in the bargain
which you have concluded . . . . (Hilali and Khan)

Allah and Muhammad are completely wrong about the Bibles command to fight
in bloody wars in order to bring heavenly rewards. Moses ordered wars that were
time-specific (more than 3,000 years ago), location-specific (holy land), and
purpose-specific. But Moses or Joshua or the judges
did not promise heaven, automatically, for the express act of dying in wars.

All of these passages use win-win-win logic from Muhammads point of view.
If a jihadist dies fighting, then he gets Islamic paradise. If he wins and lives,
then he gets material spoils. If he is defeated but escapes with his life,
then he gets to fight another day.

Jesus

Matthew 5:10 10:39, 19:29 speak of an uncompromising commitment to follow Jesus,
laying down ones life mainly in a spiritual way, and possibly in a physical death
under severe and fatal persecution, but the verses are not found in the context of a
bloody religious war. Rather, Jesus calls his disciples to pick up their cross and follow
him (Matt. 10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27), but he also says that they should
do this daily (Luke 9:23). The image of the cross means that they must follow Jesus no
matter what, on a daily basis, which precludes an earthly martyrdom, which is done only
once; per contra, a "daily martyrdom" is continuous. A twisted love of physical
death is not in view in those New Testament passages in the context of holy wars.

The following cannot be repeated too often because it diametrically opposes
the Islamic doctrine of salvation, or how to get into heaven: only Christs
"Martyrdom" guarantees a believers place in heaven; only Christs
Ultimate Good Work on the cross paves the way to God. Thus, the Christian does not (or
should not) have a psychological inducement to kill himself or to be killed in battle
to achieve heaven. He needs only trust in Christ.

For more information on the Qurans economic bargain of death for
jihadists in holy wars and how it differs from the Old and New Testaments,
see this article.

7. Wealth

One took it by force. The other resisted this temptation.

Muhammad

Besides forcing religious conformity and the submission of non-Muslims, he
was after wealth.

Sura 48 was revealed in AD 628, after a treaty with the Meccans and during
his conquest of the Jews of Khaybar. This verse predicts future spoils of war for
Allahs beloved prophet. Sura 48:20 says:

48:20 Allah has promised you abundant spoils that you will capture, and He
has hastened for you this, and He has restrained the hands of men from you, that it may be
a sign for the believers, and that He may guide you to a Straight Path. (Hilali and Khan)

Maududi says that the clause "Allah has promised you abundant spoils
that you will capture" refers to the conquests after Muhammads takeover of the
city of Khaybar. It communicates a general promise of the spoils of any war that he
embarks on. (TheMeaning of the Quran, vol. 5, p. 62, note 35).

However, Allah in this verse warns Muslims and Muhammad not to get
attached to material things or to get ensnared by the "love of desires."

3:14 The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold
and silver and well bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem [beautiful] to men;
this is the provision of the life of this world; and Allah is He with Whom is the good
goal (of life). (Shakir, my insertion in brackets)

This verse teaches wisdom, but Muhammad did not follow it. He is the one
who desired women and married many of thema privilege of numbers reserved only for
him (Sura 33:50); he is the one who traded in slaves,
a lucrative business; he is the one who owned vast herds of livestock; he is the one who
said that money will expiate or atone for sins; he is the one who bought off converts; he
and his successors are the ones who conquered peaceful people who did not harm Islam in
the slightest; he is the one who spread out recently collected tax money in his mosque,
counting the most he had ever received; he is the one who promised his jihadists heaven if
they died, and plunder if they lived. If anyone had the "love of desires," it
was the prophet of Islam.

Jesus

Satan offers Jesus the whole world at the very beginning of his ministry.
But he turned down this offer. Luke 4:1-2, 5-7 says:

4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil . . . 5
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instance all the kingdoms of the
world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for
it has been given me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it
will be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written, Worship the Lord your
God and serve him only." (cf. Deuteronomy 6:13)

In divine cooperation between Jesus and the Spirit, God allowed Satan to
lead Jesus up to a high place and show him all the kingdoms of this worldtheir glory
and political authority (exousia in Greek means political authority; cf. Luke 4:6
and 12:11, 20:20, 23:7). In addition to political authority, kingdom, by definition
at the time of Christ, includes material resources, backed by a strong military. However,
Jesus raises his and our vision to a spiritual transformation of the world, one soul at a
time, without killing people and robbing their money by bloodshed.

The main back-up article discusses more topics on Muhammads
policies on accumulating material possessions.

One allowed polygamy and had many wives. The other says one man and one woman.

Muhammad

The Quran in Sura 4:3 says:

And if you be apprehensive that you will not be able to do justice to the
orphans, you may marry two or three or four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend
that you might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one wife, or marry those
who have fallen in your possession. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 305)

Maududi paraphrases the verse: "If you need more than one [wife] but
are afraid that you might not be able to do justice to your wives from among the free
people, you may turn to slave girls because in that case you will be burdened with less
responsibilities" (note 6) (See Sura 4:24).

However, Muhammad would not allow polygamy for his son-in-law Ali, because
an extra wife would hurt Muhammads daughter Fatima, by his first wife Khadija.
Fatima was married to Ali.

I heard Allahs Apostle who was on the pulpit, saying, "Banu
Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin
Abu Talib, but I dont give permission, and will not give permission unless Ali
bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a
part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me."
(Bukhari)

Thus, Muhammad understands how hurtful polygamy can be for women, but he
himself practiced it and allowed it for Muslim men, generally.

Muhammads "special" marriage privileges

Moreover, it seems that Allah gave Muhammad special permission to marry as
many women as he desired or take them as slaves or concubines, just as in the pre-Islamic
days of "ignorance."

The Quran in Sura 33:50, a lengthy verse, grants Muhammad wide latitude in
his marriages:

O Prophet, We have made lawful to you those of your wives, whose dowers
you have paid, and those women who come into your possession out of the slave-girls
granted by Allah, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and of your
maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with you, and the believing woman who
gives herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet may desire her. This privilege is for you
only, not for the other believers . . . . (Maududi vol. 4, p. 111, emphasis added).

This verse says that besides those women whose dower Muhammad paid, he may marry
slave-girlsthat is, he may have sex with them (see this article
for this Quran-inspired immorality). Maududi references three slave-girls taken during raids,
and Mary the Copt, a gift from an Egyptian ruler. Muhammad had sex with her, and there
does not seem to be a political need for this. Second, Muhammad may marry his first cousins,
and Maududi cites a case in which this happened. Third, if a believing woman offers herself
to Muhammad, and he desires her, then he may marry her (Maududi vol. 4, note 88).

This hadith says that Muhammad used to visit nine (or eleven) wives in one night.

Anas bin Malik said, "The Prophet used to visit all his wives in a
round, during the day and night and they were eleven in number." I asked Anas,
"Had the Prophet the strength for it?" Anas replied, "We used to say that
the Prophet was given the strength of thirty (men)." And Sa'id said on the authority
of Qatada that Anas had told him about nine wives only (not eleven).
(Bukhari.
See the parallel hadiths
here,
here,
and here)

But the capstone of these "special" marriages occurs when
Muhammad also marries the ex-wife (Zainab) of his adopted son (Zaid). His son-in-law
divorced her with the prophet standing in the background. In fact, early Islamic
sources say that Muhammad catches a glimpse of his daughter-in-law in a
state of undress,
so he desired her. Once the divorce is final, Allah reveals to him in Sura 33:36-44 that
this marriage between father-in-law and daughter-in-law is legal and moral.

Jesus

He endorses the model in the Garden of Eden.

3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful
for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 4 "Havent you
read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and
female, 5 and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and the two shall will become one flesh? 6 So they are no
longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."
7 "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a
certificate of divorce and send her away?" 8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you
to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard, but it was not this way from the
beginning . . . (Matthew 19:4-8)

The Old Testament allows polygamy, though it is honest enough to reveal
the problems inhering in this ancient custom (e.g. Genesis 16:5 and 1 Samuel 1:6-7).
Islam looks like the Old Testament and permits polygamy. However, Gods original
intent was to honor women, but polygamy favors men to the exclusion of women. Also,
Jesus fulfills and interprets the Old Testament for
Christians, and Eden is his choice. Thus, Christianity protects and honors women.

For a more thorough analysis of polygamy in the Quran, go to this
online booklet and click on Chapter 12.

See this article
on the number of wives and human sexual property Muhammad allowed himself.

Besides the previous articles, this one is also the back up.
At the end, it links to more articles on the marriage and divorce of Zaid, Zainab, and
Muhammad.

9. Miracles

One worked no miracles. The other works many of them, even today.

Muhammad

He can perform no miracles, according to Allahs own account of him in the Quran.
However, in the hadith, his admirers have a strong motive to puff up their beloved prophet
with miracle stories. But the Quran contradicts their accounts.

In the following Meccan verse in Sura 17, Muhammad answers the charge that he cannot
work miracles. Allah commands his messenger to "say" the following to his critics.

In this next Meccan verse, people again question Muhammad about this inability
to work miracles.

13:7 The disbelievers say: "Why has no miracle been sent down to him
from his Lord?" But you [Muhammad] are only there to give warning . . .
(Haleem, my insertion)

It is an ironical fact that the Quran is clearer about Jesus miracles than
it is about Muhammads (non)miracles: "And I [Jesus] heal him who was born
blind, and the leper, and I bring to life by Allahs leave [permission]"
(Sura 3:49, Hilali and Khan). Why did not the Quran explicitly and loudly and
unambiguously declare Muhammads miracles, as it does about the miracles
of Jesus?

Jesus

After his death, two discouraged disciples matter-of-factly recount what
they observed to a seeming stranger (the resurrected Jesus):

19 About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied: "He was a prophet powerful
in word and deed before God and all the people." (Luke 24:19)

This one summary verse in Luke represents many that tell of his miracles.
A very short list follows:

These two articles explain Muhammads inability to work miracles:
here and
here.
They reply to Islamic polemics and cite more verses in the Quran.

10. Dealing with sexual sin

One ordered flogging and execution. The other offers forgiveness and restoration.

Muhammad

This verse, according to reliable traditions, concerns fornication or premarital sex.
Note the insertions by the two translators. The Quran in Sura 24:2 says:

24:2 The fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred
stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if
you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their
punishment. [This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime (illegal
sex), but if married persons commit it (illegal sex), the punishment is to stone them to
death, according to Allahs law]. (Hilali and Khan; the additions in parentheses and
brackets are theirs).

. . . Then the Prophet said, 'Take him away and stone him to death."
Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: I was among the ones who participated in stoning him and we
stoned him at the Musalla. When the stones troubled him, he fled, but we overtook him
at Al-Harra [rocky place near Medina] and stoned him to death.
(Bukhari;
insertion added)

This gruesome hadith passage reports that a woman was buried up to her
chest and stoned to death, her blood spurting:

. . . And when he had given command over her and she was put in a hole up
to her breast, he ordered the people to stone her. Khalid b. al-Walid came forward with a
stone which he threw at her head, and when the blood spurted on his face he cursed her.
. . (Muslim no. 4206)

Jesus

He zeros in on the root cause of adultery. In the famous Sermon on the
Mount he says this about adultery and lust:

27 "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit
adultery. 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:27-28)

Immediately, this raises the stakes so high that all corporeal punishment
is removed; otherwise, all of humanity would kill each other with legalized stoning. These
two verses imply that sexual sin is no longer a civil crime or any kind of crime. As usual
with Jesus, he goes to the heart of the sin. Adultery and other sexual sins begin in the
mind, so the solution to them must also begin in the mind.

As for prostitutes, Jesus let them into his kingdom on their repentance.
While in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders, who were badgering him with antagonistic
questions, confronted him. Jesus replies to them.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the
prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you." (Matthew 21:31)

But first prostitutes have to be forgiven of their sins before they enter
the kingdom of God. One day a certain Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus into his large
house for dinner. Suddenly a "sinful woman" (read: local prostitute) crashed the
dinner party and washed Jesus feet with her tears, wiped them off with her hair, and
poured oil on his feet. The Pharisee became indignant and said to himself that if Jesus
really were a prophet, he would know who was touching him and not allow it, for she was
unclean. Jesus pointed out to him that Simon had not offered him the customs of
hospitality, but this sinful woman was doing this. "Then Jesus said to her,
Your sins are forgiven. The other guests began to say among themselves,
Who is this who even forgives sins? [This is another New Testament hint of
Jesus divinity.] Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in
peace" (Luke 7:48-50).

This true account shows that Jesus did not order prostitutes and other
sexual sinners to be hunted down and flogged or burned alive, even though this one was
living in Israel, the Holy Land, and even though the Torah says specifically that a
prostitute must be burned with fire (Leviticus 21:9). Instead, Jesus looks at the heart
and sees a diamond in the rough. He knows that with his love and power, sexual sinners of
all sorts can be changed. So the spiritual solution is forgiveness without condemnation.
This is a long, long way from Jesus instituting the punishment of stoning sinners, or even
their flogging, as Muhammad would like to reinstitute an old-new Quranic law.

This article explains Sura 24:2 more thoroughly, along
with adultery. It also cites more hadiths and explores Islamic law, contrasting them
with Christs new era of salvation.

Here is another back-up article on Muhammads punishment
of homosexuality, analyzing the Quran, the hadith, and Islamic law. It also explains the Biblical
position. Christ offers forgiveness and restoration.

11. Bible prophecy

One is not mentioned or prophesied in the Bible. The other fulfills
Messianic prophecy.

Muhammad

In a verse in the Quran, two scholars insert some parenthetical comments
that are not found in the original Arabic.

Though Muhammads claim that he is found in the Bible is farfetched to begin
with, the two translators take it for granted that the Biblical references from
Deuteronomy and the Gospel of John mention or prophesy their prophet. This belief has
circulated around the Muslim world for many years and has become "gospel truth."
Further, Muslim propagandists have searched for clear references to Muhammad in the Torah
and the Gospels (and the entire Bible). But have they been successful? Does this belief
have any foundation in the Biblical texts?

Researchers have already easily demonstrated that Muhammad does not fit the profile
of a Biblical prophet or any other saint mentioned or predicted in the Bible.

This mid-length chapter lists the basic
arguments by Muslims and answers them point by point. It then lists the similarities
between Moses and Christ. This means that Christ is the prophet predicted by Moses.

This mid-length article also lists
the characteristics of Moses and Christ and demonstrates the match between the two.
The similarities and the length of the list are remarkable. Muhammad is excluded.

The most thorough refutation of the claim that Muhammad is the Comforter in
John 14 is found in this chapter.
It even has an image of a Greek papyrus containing John 14:9-26 that shows the New
Testament was not tampered with and that paraclętos is the right word in the
chapter, not periclytos ("much praise"; cf. Sura 61:6).

This article is a thorough
refutation of a Muslim polemicists claim (and this polemicist is not alone)
that Sura 61:6 says that Jesus prophesies the appearance of a certain "Ahmad"
(meaning "Praise"). Islamic research on this issue is terribly confused
and substandard.

These articles together consist of a thorough exegesis of Biblical texts, taking
them in historical and literary contexts. Thus, the absence of any clear reference
in the Bible to Muhammad as some sort of future spokesman for God is not surprising.
Culturally and chronologically, he was too far removed from the Biblehe was not
a Jew. He was also much too inaccurate about the Bible in matters of verifiable,
textual facts.

The result of this quick study: Muhammad is absent from Bible prophecy and all
other areas of the Bible.

Jesus

Old Testament prophecy about himself as the Messiah was very important to Jesus.

After he was resurrected bodily, he appeared to many disciples. Two of them were
walking down a road that led to a village called Emmaus. They recounted the recent
events and their disappointment that Jesus had not redeemed Israel. But they were
amazed that several of the disciples said that the tomb was empty and that Jesus
had appeared to some of them. It was a surprise when a seeming stranger joined them
in their journey. He asked them what they were talking about. They told him about
their disappointment that Jesus was not everything that they had hoped for.
Then Jesus (the seeming stranger) revealed himself and gave them a Bible lesson.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] explained to
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)

It is quite possible that Jesus discussed at least some of these verses listed in
the Table of Messianic Prophecies. It cites nearly
ninety prophecies that follow Jesus from his birth and infancy, to his death,
resurrection, and ascensionand his reign in heaven.

12. The Spirit

One restricts and confuses the doctrine of the Spirit. The other freely
offers the Spirit as a full Person.

Muhammad

He severely restricts the role and nature of the Spirit. The references to
the Islamic spirit in the Quran are far, far fewer than those to the Spirit in the New
Testament. In fact, the Quranic references, below, are complete (or nearly so).

The spirit in the Quran has similar functions as those in the Bible, but
the Quranic spirits role is weaker and less defined. Examples follow. This spirit
seems to be involved in creation (Suras 15:98; 32:7-9; 38:71-72). He helped Mary conceive
Jesus (Suras 19:18-19; 21:91; 66:12). The spirit appeared in the form of a man to Mary
(Sura 19:18-19). He strengthened Jesus (Suras 2:87; 2:253; 5:110), and the believers (Sura
58:22). Jesus is called a "spirit from God" (Sura 4:171; cf. 2:253). The spirit
inspired and revealed the Quran (Sura 16:102; 17:85; 26:192-193; 97:4). Finally, he is a
witness or participates in some way in the Last Day (Suras 70:4; 78:38), warning of
impending judgment (Sura 40:15).

Thus, the Qurans view of the Spirit overlaps somewhat with the
Bibles (creation, conception of Jesus, and inspiration), but in other ways the Quran
is confused and deficient (Jesus is a spirit; the spirit appears as a man; his helping
believers is mentioned only once). But none of this confusion and deficiency matters,
because traditional Islam erroneously reduces the Spirit to the archangel Gabriel. Why? A
fully developed pneumatology (doctrine of the Spirit) wreaks havoc on a strict unitarian
doctrine of God.

Jesus

Just before his resurrection and ascension, Jesus promises to send the
Spirit to every believer who asks in his name (John 14:15-18; 16:5-15). He fulfills this
promise in Acts 2:1-4. The Spirit fills the believers, and the church is formally created.

In an exhaustive concordance in which every word in the Bible is listed,
the word "Spirit" or "spirit" of God or the Lord in the Old Testament
takes up almost two columns. In the New Testament, the same words take over three columns.
This gives us an idea of the importance of the Spirit in the New Testament. This is
especially remarkable, since the Old Testament is much, much longer than the New. In the
New Covenant, the Holy Spirit, as a full Person, lives in every believer to help him
follow God and receive his love.

This long article (the readers may scroll down
to "Who is the Spirit?") argues convincingly that the Spirit cannot be Gabriel
without damaging other aspects of Islamic theology.

This article briefly discusses the Spirit in the Old Testament,
the New Testament, and the Quran (scroll down to "Holy Spirit").

He is strictly and only a mortal man, warner, announcer, prophet, and messenger.
These are the number of times that the last four titles appear in the Meccan
and Medinan suras in the Quran, when the titles apply to Muhammad. The Mecca suras were
revealed before his Hijrah or emigration from there to Medina in AD 622. The Medinan ones
were received after this date.

The most important statistic is the title of prophet. It is used only two times in Mecca,
and those occur in late verses (just before he immigrated to Medina). Evidently, Allah
was reluctant to call him by that title for a long time. The Quran also drops the title of
warner, almost out of sight, after Muhammad arrives in Medina.

But this is the unalterable fact: he is a mortal man like all of us. He is
a human warner, a human announcer or bringer of news, a human prophet, and a human
messenger. He never claimed divinity for himself.

His mortality is a major reason why he objects so strenuously to the divinity
and Sonship of Christ (Suras 3:58-60; 4:171; 5:72-75, 116; 9:30; 19:33-34). If
Muhammad is the best and last prophet and messenger, then how can Jesus surpass him, as
the eternal Son of God? Muhammad also objects because of his odd belief that God must have
physical relations to produce a son,
a notion that Christians reject.

Jesus

Jesus Christ has multiple titles. Some portray him as a human before the
crowds: Rabbi, Teacher, and Prophet. (Rabbi and Teacher are synonymous in the New
Testament, but they are kept separate since the different words are used.) And other
titles depict him as divine: the Christ, the Lord, Son of Man, Son of God, the "I
am," and God incarnate or "God with us." Here is the number of times that
his major titles appear in the Four Gospels. Some are close approximations.

Rabbi: 17
Teacher: 40
Prophet: 20
Christ: 55
Son of David: 10 (only others besides Jesus use this title about him)
The Lord: 140
Son of Man: 81 (only Jesus uses this about himself)
Son of God: 60
The "I Am": 20

This is Part One of Two, which goes into more detail
on Muhammads roles and mortal nature.

Here is Part Two, which talks about the roles and natures
of Jesus: He is fully human and fully divine.

This Appendix has four Tables that list all of
the Quranic references to Muhammads roles as warner, announcer, prophet, and messenger.

14. Their deaths

One died of sickness aggravated by poison. The other died on the cross for
the sins of the world.

Muhammad

Dying in the arms of his girl-bride
Aisha,
Muhammad asked Allah for forgiveness and mercy for his own soul just before he died,
begging his deity to raise him up to the highest companions. He also cursed his enemies.

He was destined by God to die for the sins of the world. It is
unimaginable that Jesus would die from sickness and poison. He healed many with illnesses
and even demon possession, in an atmosphere of faith. His mission was to set them free of
ailments. Further, he forgave his crucifiers. He also prayed for a criminal and promised
him that he would be in paradise. Jesus knew where he himself was goingback to
heaven where he originally came from.

He said:

"Father, forgive [the crucifiers], for they do not know what they are
doing." (Luke 23:34)

Jesus answered [the criminal], "I tell you the truth, today you will
be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

This article affirms the actual and physical
crucifixion of Christ and critiques the Qurans odd assertion that Jesus merely appeared
to have died (Sura 4:157-158).

This article explains that Muhammad likely picked up this
strange belief about the non-crucifixion from Docetism, derived from a Greek word meaning
"to seem" or "to appear" (scroll down to point no. 2 in the linked
article).

His body lies still in his grave. Anyone can claim that his soul will go
to heaven, for no one can see a disembodied soul. This fatwa (legal decree) at a Muslim
website clarifies a question posed by a Muslim on the death of Muhammad.

The Messenger . . . died and was buried in his grave; hence . . .
Abu Bakr . . . said: "Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died,
but whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and will never die."
(Source)

The earliest Christians said Jesus body was raised to life. The following
passage comes from the Gospel of Mark.

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and
Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. 2 Very early on the
first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they
asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,
had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white
robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus
the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they
laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb.
They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)

He has risen. The tomb is empty.

This article
by William Lane Craig explains why, from Pauls theology, Christ was raised bodily.
His theology completely agrees with the Four Gospels.

This article
by Craig affirms the historicity of the empty tomb. It is not a matter of blind faith.

Finally, this article
by the same scholar narrows the focus on the disciples inspection of the empty tomb.

Conclusion

Two strategies seem to be at play in aggressive Islam. The first is to intimidate and
terrorize. This is why we see violent protests and explosions. The second is theological
and textualto blur distinctions. "Come on," these whitewashers seem to say;
"Islam is just like Christianity; in fact, Islam can complete it. Jesus and Muhammad
are the same. So whats all the fuss about?" But this list contradicts the second
strategy. The Son of God and the warner from Mecca are profoundly different.

Clarity and truth are better than wishful thinking and whitewash. We may wish that all
religions were the same, but they are not. Some polemicists may whitewash their own religion,
but this is deceptive at best and dangerous at worst.

If or when Islam gains a foothold in a region, it may impose its harsh laws (see
the Supplemental List, below). This would spell disaster for all freedom-loving people,
everywhere. The Quran and Islamic law are harsh and restrictive. They impose external
holiness and righteousness on everyone, and harshly punish anyone who refuses.

Christianity has been a blessing to the world, especially in the last three hundred years,
and particularly in America. Gradually returning to its New Testament roots, today Christianity
offers real freedom and true peace. In an environment influenced by Christianity, people can
grow and live without harassment. They can work at their careers in freedom and become prosperous.
They can develop new ideas leading to new technology that benefits humanity.

However, in this freedom, people may not walk the path of righteousness. They may adopt
lifestyles that oppose the Bible. But when the Church became the government, it oppressed
people. This is the lesson of history. The Church must allow people to go their own way.
People vote with their feet. If the Church preaches a meaningful message, then people will
come. If not, they must not be persecuted or harassed, but breathe the air of freedom.
They are in Gods hands.

On the other side, many Islamic countries suppress free-speech and dissent. Rarely can
anyone criticize the government, and death to anyone who questions the Quran and Islam itself.
It is an observable fact that these nations have stagnated economically. Where is a steady
progress of technology coming from this part of the world? Too often women are restricted,
and this means half of the worlds brain power is locked up. Thus, throughout the past
four hundred or more years, Islam has not been a blessing to societies.

Freedom is better than repression.

Jesus and Christianity offer the first, Muhammad and Islam the second.

Supplemental List

Muslim polemicists and propagandists tell us that the Quran is Gods final
revelation to humanity. Islam improves on Christianity,
and their holy book corrects the Bible. These propagandists would like Islam to mediate
between Judaism and Christianity. Implementing Islamic law or sharia is Gods will.
However, the following legal decrees, policies, and practices contradict these mere
verbal assertions and mental beliefs. Every one of them comes from the Quran itself,
followed by chapter and verse.

1. The hands of male or female thieves should be cut off (5:38).

2. The hands and feet must be cut off for fighting and corrupting the land
(5:33).

6. Husbands are a degree above their wives in status (2:228); reliable hadiths say
the majority of the inhabitants of hell are women only because of their "harshness
and ingratitude," not for any numerical majority around the globe.

7. A male gets a double share of the inheritance over that of a female (4:11).

8. A womans testimony counts half of a mans testimony because
she may "forget" (2:282). Reliable hadiths say this law is based on
the "deficiency of a womans mind."

9. A man may divorce his wife merely if he says "I divorce you" three times (2:229).
This verse is baffling because it does not say explicitly "three times."
But Islamic law interprets it in this way.

10. A wife may remarry her ex-husband if and only if she marries another man,
they have sex, and then this second man divorces her (2:230).

11. Husbands may hit their wife or wives (4:34).

12. Mature Muslim men may marry and consummate their marriage with prepubescent girls (65:4).

13. Slavery is endorsed: Muhammad himself traded in slaves and owned
black slaves; and Muslim men may have sex
with slave-girls (47:4; 4:24; 23:5-6; 70-29-30).

14. The Quran endorses the massacre of Jewish men and pubescent boys and
the enslavement of the women and children (33:25-27).

This list is all about physical acts and practical policies here on earth,
not about abstract doctrines. These policies and legal decrees can be measured and
evaluated with our own eyes and sound reason, and how do they come out? Not very good,
to say the least.

Further, it may be fairly asked: Did Jesus and his Apostles and the New Testament
authors say or do these things? Not even close.

Thus, if the Quran is the last of Gods final revelation to humanity,
then God must hate us, especially women. Truthfully, humanity can do a lot better
than the Quran. We must leave it far behind us in the new millennium.

If the readers suspect that these verses have been taken out of context,
they may click on the following articles that in turn have long and several supporting
articles behind each item on the lists: